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This is part of a document written as a training aid for US Army officers in 1946 / 7. It is held in the Fort Benning Archives and was/is used as their unit narrative of D-day and the days that followed. It is written based on information from the men of 116th Inf. of the 29th Division. So although not directly reporting on the Rangers, it does refer to them as they were with them at the time – and they were encountering the same artillery barrages as the Rangers.

Interesting paragraphs are these…

D PLUS 2. 8 JUNE 1944.

1st Battalion, 116th Infantry and the 5th Ranger Battalion were in the vicinity of St. Pierre-du-Mont. Their advance had been limited by artillery fire from Maisy and numerous strong points.

The 116th Infantry and Rangers had the mission of clearing the coast line from Vierville to Isigny of all enemy resistance. Situation at Pointe-du-Hoe remained unchanged and the enemy artillery in the vicinity of Grand Camp and Maisy was still active despite all efforts of the Naval fire.
Early the morning of 8 June 44 the 23 and 3d Battalions, 116th Infantry plus two Companies of Tanks moved along the Vierville-Grand Camp road w i t h the Battalion the advance guard. The advance was uneventful until the head of the column came in sight of Grand Camp and came under fire.

Battalion Commander was formulating his plan of attack when he received orders from intelligence to attack toward Pointe-du-Hoe.

The 1st Battalion and the Rangers were to strike the enemy from the east, and the Battalion, with tanks, from the west.

In order for the 3d Battalion to take up its battle position, the Battalion had to traverse it’s steps a 1000 yards under heavy artillery fire.

It specifically refers to the artillery barrages they were receiving as coming from Maisy – I am now going to try and research their casualty figures for that period…